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Saratoga Sampler

Trumbull tells Foothill Club about treacherous Everest climb

By Mary Ann Cook

HEYDAY FOR DEC. 1: A truly hectic heyday hit Saratoga as the calendar flipped to December because so many things were going on that evening. Firstly, Debbie Reynolds was holding forth at Sacred Heart Church in a benefit to raise money for the parish, the school and the men's club.

Then there was the showing at the library of the city's 50th Anniversary Parade in all its glory and all the other monthlong doings. There was A Tale of Two Cities at West Valley College, Aida at the Civic Theatre and an art and wine sale at Montalvo.

In addition, the Foothill Club presented Lance Trumbull, founder of the Everest Peace Project, talking and illustrating his daunting trek up Everest in May. Trumbull, recently of Sunnyvale and a religious studies major at UC-Berkeley, found that he had a calling to do something symbolic for peace at midlife.

So he sold all his earthly possessions, including his business, and moved to Nepal. Only two duffel bags of clothes and supplies were retained. For four years he roamed through China, India, Tibet, always climbing and always looking for candidates for his peace project.

Placing ads, he was able to interview and hand-pick nine mountain-climbing, peace-focused colleagues to challenge the highest peak in the world. He chose Everest for the mission because it's such a powerful symbol. Trumbull wanted an interfaith assembly--Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews, atheists represented.

Thus he enlisted two Israelis, one Palestinian, one Indian, one African, a climber from New Zealand and one woman from Colorado. Experienced Everest climber James McGinnis was the leader. Trumbull himself stayed at Advanced Base Camp, filmed the action and played liaison for trouble central.

Another climber got sick and stayed at ABC with Trumbull. Meanwhile, the others trekked to the top. But when the descent was barely under way, tragedy threatened: One candidate was too sick to continue. To hear that his climbers had reached the mountaintop was the happiest moment of his life. But what followed was his most horrifying moment: the fear that death was about to claim one of his crew. Through 36 grueling hours of fresh oxygen, unceasing encouragement and sheer guts and determination, the ailing member was finally able to reach camp.

Others, besides peace members, helped him descend. It's not unusual to spot dead bodies along the route as you climb, Trumbull said matter-of-factly. Climbing Everest, even for the experienced, is a life-or-death challenge.

PHOTO OP: Lillian Barna was a delegate to the Alliance Convention of the Pan American Round Table held this fall in Corpus Christi, Texas. Some 455 women convened from 21 different countries, but Barna was the one who appeared in newspaper photos of the event in the Caller-Times.

The Pan Am mission is to promote knowledge and cultural understanding among women in the Americas, and learn ways to improve the lot of women in economically depressed countries. The local chapter gives five $800 scholarships yearly to Evergreen College students.

"It's through education that economic and social problems improve," Barna said at the conference. The Saratogan is retired superintendent of San Jose Unified School District, and also active in Saratoga Rotary. She was a nominee for Pan American Woman of the Year, one of three remaining when the list was narrowed.

However, the candidate from Mexico won the title.

POETRY TO THE RESCUE: Josine and Dirk Smits of Los Gatos have brought art and science together, socially speaking, that is. Josine is an art historian, and Dirk is a technology entrepreneur, his own definition of his role. He works at National Semiconductor.

When the two hosted parties, the two disparate groups tended not to mingle. The Smitses searched for a solution and hit upon poetry. That did the trick: Now guests bring a poem to their poetry dinners that are read throughout the evening.

Instead of shop talk, dinner conversation becomes a free-for-all as guests respond to the emotions evoked. Another conversation-starter the Smitses employ is to ask a communal question. The question may be something like, "What was your first impression of California?"

The Smitses are originally from the Netherlands, and the guest list leans toward the international. Together the Smitses have come up with a low-tech technique to balance Silicon Valley's high-tech temperament.

SINGING TO SENIORS: "Just Friends" will entertain at the Saratoga Senior Center with a holiday lunch program Dec. 13. Barbara Dutra and Lynda Fox are Saratogans, and Chris VanHoy owns Saratoga Curves. Nancy Vaughan and Barbara Howell of San Jose are the other members.

NEW SOLES: Two classes of second-graders at Action Day's Amber School held a new shoe drive and collected items of warm clothing for children under the Emergency Housing Coalition. Spearheading the drive were teachers Brenda Hogue and Ron Martin, assisted by parent Susanne Cordova.

More donations can be dropped off at El Quito School or University Preschool until Dec. 15.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to mac@impruve.com.